Bread-box.



R. H. BERKSTRESSER.

yBREAD sox. APPLICATION FILED IIIY I2, I9I5. RENEINED FEB! 26. 1917.

I. Q ,339., Patente Sept. 25, 19W.

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ROBERT H. isnaxsrnnssnn, ror wenn, PENNSYLVANIA.

BREAD-BOX.

Be it known that I, ROBERT H. BERK- s'rnnssnn, a citizen of the United States, re-

siding at York, in the county of York and Statev of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bread- Boxes, vof which the following is a specification.

My invention relates toimprovements in apparatus for holding bread-stuffs, protecting them from dust, dirt, or the like,fand retaining the same suitably moist.

An important object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the above-mentioned character, which is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and convenient in use. y

Other objects and advantages of the yinvention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

1n the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in-which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of apparatus embodying the invention,

Fig. 2 is a central vertical longitudinal section through the same, and,

Fig. 3 is a detail transverse section, taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 1 designates a preferably rectangular body portion or shell, having a cover or lid 2 hinged thereto. This cover or lid is held closed by latch means 1, as shown. The shell 1v is supported by legs 5, as shown.

Arranged beneath the shell 1 and extending transversely thereof is a guide casing 6, attached thereto, as shown at 7. The rear end of this guide casing 6 is closed, while its forward end is open.

Removably mounted in the transverse` guide casing 6 is a drawer or tray 8, the upper side of which is open. The forward end of this drawer or tray has a head 9, extending outwardly therebeyond, as shown. This head is perforated centrally thereof as shown at 10, to provide ventilation, and a vertically movable valve 11, is adapted to wholly or partly cover the perforations. This valve operates in guides 12, as shown. Disposed exteriorly of the bottom of the shell 1, and extending longitudinally thereof are conduits 13, attached to the bottom by specification OfIitters Patent, Patented -Sept. 25., 1917.

'Renewed February 26, 1917. Serial No. 151,142.

solder or the like: These' conduits are preferably semi-cylindrical in cross-section, but

-t'his shape is by no means essential. 1t their outer ends these conduits 13 extend upwardly, in portions 15, disposed exteriorly 4The drawer or tray 8 is provided in its sides with openings or notches 18, adapted `:to register with the inner ends of the conduits 13, when the. tr-ay is in the closed position.

The shell 1 is provided in its bottom and ends-with a row or rows ofperforations 19,

A`in connnunication with the exterior conduits 13. `The bottom of the shell is provided with centrally arranged perforations 20, that communicate with the drawer or tray. The ends of the shell 1 are also perforated at 21, near and above the vertical conduit portions 15 topermit of the escape of air from the interior of the shell'.

In the use of the apparatus, a sponge or the like is saturated with water and arranged within the drawer or tray 8. The breadstuff is arranged within the shell 1. The moisture from the sponge in the tray 8 passes through the apertures 2O directly into the interior of the shell land also passes thro-ugh the conduit portions 13 and 15 and apertures 19 and thereby indirectly into the interior of the shell. TWhen it is desired to establish vand maintain circulation of moiture-laden air through the interior of the shell l, the valve 11 is raisedto uncover more or less of the perforations 10, whereupon atmospheric air will enter the draw 8 where it will take up moisture and from whence it will pass through the apertures 20, the conduit portions 13-15 and the apertures 19 into the interior of the shell 1. The air, moisture-laden or otherwise, is free to escape from the upper portion of the interior of the shell through the apertures 21, and from this it follows that circulation of air through the interior of the shell may' be readily established and maintained.

Under some conditions it is desirable to supply air, moisture-laden or not, to the central portion of the bottom of the shell 1 alone, as when it is desired to ventilate or keep moist the lower portion only of a mass uof the ends of the shell 1 and attached thereof bread or cake. It'will be noticed Aby 'I e reference to Fig. 8 that the same can be of the conduit'portions l'a'nd bar communication between the same and the interior of the drawer 8, which atmospheric air will be; free to enter the drawer through the eX- yposed .portion ofl the top thereof, and can as 'freely pass from the drawer through the apertures 2O into the interiorof the shell l. f f' Having thus described thel invention, I claim An apparatus for the purpose described, comprising a shell having apertures'in the upper portions of opposite upright walls and lower apertures in said walls and also having central apertures in its bottom wall and other apertures in said bottom wall, between the central apertures .and lsaid f oppol site upright walls, a casing Xed belowy the central portion of the bottom of said shell ylower aperturesy in said opposite upright walls of the shell and closed at their upper ends, a slidable drawer disposedin said casf ing` and open at its upper side andk having an opening in its outer'end wall and also having openings in its side walls adapted to be moved into and out of registration rwith the inner ends ofthe horizontal conduit portions, and a valve carried by the drawer and arranged to control the opening in the' outer end wall thereof.

In testimony whereof Iraiiix my signature f in presence of two witnesses. n

ROBERT H. BERKSTRESSER.

Witnesses M. J. RAFFENSBERGER, W. S. PEDDEooRD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the lCommissioner o1? jPatents,

'f Y Washington, D. C. y 

